Financial Reporter Awards

The Financial Reporter Awards aim to set higher benchmarks for our industry by recognising those who are already raising the bar.

After almost two decades of celebrating excellence, we have seen so much progress right across the mortgages and specialist lending sector. But we also know that there is still a lot of work to do.

With this in mind, we asked the sponsors of #FRA26 about what they hope the industry will look like in five years’ time, and how they see us getting there.

Collaboration and specialist lending

“We'd like to see a more joined up approach within the housing market, where data is more easily available as part of a collaborative approach right across the industry, and ultimately making the home buying process easier for customers,” says Lisa Parker, L&C Mortgages, Mortgage Lender of the Year sponsor.

In addition, Timothy Sweetman, Paragon Bank, Legal Services Provider of the Year sponsor, calls for a “a more joined up, specialist‑led lending market that delivers consistently better outcomes for customers, regardless of their location or circumstances.”

“We’d like to see greater recognition and understanding of specialist lending solutions, with brokers and lenders working even more collaboratively to support customers who don’t fit a standard, high‑street mould.”

“That includes continued investment in education, tools and access, so brokers can confidently identify the right specialist solution first time and customers benefit from better advice and smoother journeys.

“Ultimately, our goal is an industry that combines high standards, regional inclusivity and genuine expertise, where specialist lenders play an increasingly important role in solving real‑world problems and supporting sustainable growth across the UK.”

Joanne Hollins, Metro Bank, Protection Broker of the Year sponsor, echoes this hope for a more joined-up experience "across the mortgage journey, where applications move more efficiently from submission through to completion, supported by smarter use of data and technology.

“That would include greater consistency in requirements and clearer communication across lenders, which can help reduce unnecessary delays and improve certainty for customers. There’s also an opportunity to continue improving how we support customers with more complex needs, ensuring good outcomes are accessible to a broader range of people.

“The goal would be an industry that balances innovation with simplicity, making processes easier for advisers to manage and clearer for customers to understand, while still delivering the right outcomes.”

Technology and efficiency

“From an innovation perspective, improvements in technology and data sharing that reduce friction without losing the human element would be a major step forward,” Timothy adds. “Faster decision‑making, clearer communication and more transparent processes would all help improve customer outcomes while maintaining the pragmatic, common‑sense approach that underpins good specialist lending.”

Nadine Edwards, NatWest, Mortgage Broker of the Year (50+ employees) sponsor, says that NatWest chose to get involved in this year’s Financial Reporter Awards because of its belief “in turning possibilities into progress,” which Nadine says “happens when friction is removed, collaboration is encouraged and brokers are supported to act with confidence. The Awards recognise those same principles: practical innovation, strong partnerships and a commitment to moving the industry forward,” and “shine a light on those who are making it easier for brokers to take action.”

In terms of how best to keep improving the industry over the next five years, Nadine thinks that “technology will fundamentally reshape the mortgage and homebuying experience, accelerating the shift towards a fully connected, data-driven ecosystem.”

“At NatWest, we are focused on leading that transformation through three priorities,” Nadine continues, “speed, simplicity and customer-centricity, making it easier for brokers to act quickly and help customers secure their homes with greater confidence.

“Strategic partnerships will continue to be a key enabler of this vision. Our integration with Pexa marks an important step forward meaning it could now be possible to complete a remortgage within 48 hours of offer, with core transparency in the process, alongside real-time fund settlement and lodgement capability.

“Looking ahead, greater digitisation across the end-to-end journey, from application through to completion, will improve transparency and create a more consistent experience for both brokers and customers.”

“At the same time, our partnership with Rightmove signals how earlier engagement in the homebuying journey will evolve. By enabling prospective buyers to understand affordability and receive instant digital decisions in principle, we are helping to create more informed customers and stronger starting points for broker conversations.

“Together, these developments point to a future where the homebuying process is simpler, faster and more connected, empowering brokers, improving outcomes, and helping more customers move into their homes with ease.”

Furthermore, Lauren Bagley, Uinsure, Mortgage Club of the Year sponsor, says that “it’s great to be involved with awards that highlight the firms embracing new technologies, dispelling the old-fashioned myths and using innovation in a practical way, improving outcomes for customers, while helping advisers build stronger, more valuable relationships.

“For the intermediary market, a real opportunity is being created,” she adds. “Better technology should not make advice less personal. It is making it easier for advisers to have the right conversations at the right time, with propositions that fit naturally into the customer journey.

“Technology is changing the pace at which our industry can operate. The way products and services can be brought to market is becoming faster, more connected and more responsive to customer needs, and the FRAs are a celebration of this.”

Similarly, Rob Gent, Mortgage Advice Bureau, Protection Provider of the Year sponsor, hopes for “a seamless mortgage journey that blends smart technology with the reassurance of expert human advice.

“Better collaboration across lenders, advisers and tech providers could make a real difference in reducing friction and speeding things up for customers,” he says.

Accessibility, broker education, and integrating insurance

Rob adds that Mortgage Advice Bureau would “also like to see more progress around accessibility, so that quality advice is within reach for a wider range of people. Ultimately, the goal is an industry that’s not just more efficient, but more inclusive and consistently delivering better outcomes.”

Charlotte Rutter, Roma Finance, Short-Term Lending Broker of the Year sponsor, echoes this hope for quality advice, with “more brokers confident and working in the commercial market with wider spread knowledge and support.”

Meanwhile, Lauren says that another goal on Uinsure’s ‘industry wishlist’ is to see “general insurance become fully embedded within the mortgage journey, not a separate conversation.”

“The greatest opportunity for advisers to discuss protecting the home is when someone is buying or remortgaging a property,” Lauren explains.

“Making insurance part of the funding conversation is also most efficient for the customer, but GI is still too often treated as an add on or something customers need to source separately.”

“This disconnect creates a gap for advisers and lenders and unnecessary friction for customers.

“In five years’ time, we’d like to see that gap close. Better use of technology and data is already starting to make insurance easier to introduce, easier for customers to act on and better connected to the moments where protection matters most. We are excited to be leading this evolution and committed to closing the gap.”

Nasar Hussain, Paymentshield, Network of the Year sponsor, also says that a central goal “is to see more advisers recognising and acting on the opportunity to discuss general insurance with their clients.

“Too often, this part of the advice journey is overlooked, and yet it’s one of the most valuable conversations a customer can have when they’re purchasing a home. We don’t see general insurance as ‘just an add-on’, we believe it’s a vital layer of protection that helps safeguard what is usually a client’s biggest asset.

“When advisers take the time to offer personalised guidance, it leads to better informed customers, stronger long-term relationships, and ultimately better outcomes across the industry.

“We’d love to see a future where general insurance advice is fully embedded into the standard advice process, where it becomes a part of every mortgage conversation.”

“If the industry can move towards a more consistent, advice-led approach to home insurance, we’ll not only improve customer protection but also raise the overall standard of care and completeness within the advice journey.

“That shift would, in our view, represent a meaningful step forward for the industry.”

Every year, the Financial Reporter Awards sees hundreds of winners and finalists set the industry standard for continuing to improve the mortgages, protection and specialist lending sectors. As Charlotte puts it, “we have already made huge strides, but we are on a journey!”

The Financial Reporter Awards 2026 will take place at Diecast, Manchester, on 9th June. Click here to learn more about how you can get involved.